Dahlia plant named &#39;BKDAMWT&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMWT’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; and large semi-double inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMWT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMWT’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy container Dahlia plants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in September, 2011 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number 4001746, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in September, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since January, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMWT’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMWT’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Large semi-double inflorescences with white-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller inflorescences than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have purple and white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida ‘Lisa White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘Lisa White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Lisa White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Lisa White’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘Lisa White’ have creamy white-colored         ray florets.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Lisa White’ differ in         inflorescence form as plants of ‘Lisa White’ have decorative         inflorescences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMWT’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘BKDAMWT’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMWT’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number 4001746, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of             the new Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; freely basal             branching habit with about eleven primary branches             developing per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar             plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit;             pinching is not required but will improve branching habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 14.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 19.9             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 26.1 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 30°             from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color,             developing: Close to between 143B and 144A; internodes,             close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 144A. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and simple or compound with             three leaflets.         -   Length, simple leaves.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Length, compound leaves.—About 13.6 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Width, simple leaves.—About 5 cm.         -   Width, compound leaves.—About 10 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 4.9 cm.         -   Shape, simple leaves.—Ovate.         -   Shape, compound leaves in overall outline.—Broadly ovate.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate.         -   Apex, leaflets.—Acute to slightly apiculate.         -   Base, leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely dentate.         -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Slightly             rugose, sparsely pubescent; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Sparsely             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to between NN137A             and 147A; venation, close to 191A. Fully expanded leaflets,             lower surface: Close to 143B; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length, simple leaves: About 4.2 cm. Length,             compound leaves: About 4.9 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Height:             About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with             about 39 inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 61 days after planting;             plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 150B; towards the             base, close to 143B; towards the apex, close to 144A to             144B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 5.7 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.6 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 80 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About             3.7 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright to             roughly horizontal and eventually downward; moderately to             strongly concave. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to between 155A and 157D and             towards the base, close to 1B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 155A and towards the base, close to 4D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D and towards the base,             close to 7B to 7C; venation, same as lamina, close to NN155D             and towards the base, close to 7B to 7C; colors do not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to NN155B to NN155C and towards the base, close to 8B to 8C;             venation, same as lamina, close to NN155B to NN155C and             towards the base, close to 8B to 8C; colors do not change             with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 40 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             four spiral whorls. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to 12A. Mid-section and base: Close to 154B. Color, fully             opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 12A.             Mid-section and base: Close to 154B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About six or seven arranged in about two whorls. Length:             About 1.6 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A to NN137B.             Color, lower surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to             NN137A to NN137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.5 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color:             Close to 17C to 17D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 24A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only:             Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Style             length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Stigma             diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma             color: Close to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and             fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Dahlia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMWT’ as illustrated and described. 